Sunday, January 28, 2007

The birds...

We've had a new family visitor for the second time now. A blue heron has twice come to visit us, and was rewarded the second time with a bowl of fruit. Think he'll be back?

Here he is on the patio cage on his first visit. For all my west coast pals, everyone in FL has these cages so that you can enjoy the weather, bug free. On my first visit to Dean's parents, this just blew my mind. Growing up in California, I had never seen anything like it. However, after a 20 minute walk around the neighborhood on Halloween, I counted 22 love bites the next day. I'm now a believer. If we end up living in Florida, a cage will be required.

heron

And here is a cute video of Natalie watching the Heron and saying hello to him. Dad, she loves walking around the neighborhood, looking for cats, bugs and birds. I think will love bug hunting with you on our next visit!

Friday, January 26, 2007

1..2..3..4..FIVE

Okay, finally at 20 months, Natalie has cut her fifth tooth. Yes, fifth. While most toddlers at this age have almost a full set including molars, miss natalie is taking her sweet time welcoming the incisors. She didn't even get her first tooth until right after her first birthday. Dean's mom remembers both he and Debbie being late teethers, and I think my mom said the same about Pete and I. So, perhaps genetics play a role here?

The signs were evident, she's been walking around for days, with her shirts lifted up, exposing her belly while gnawing on the edges. The first day I noticed a huge wet spot on the bottom of her shirt and thought she had gotten into the dogs water. Only after changing her shirt, and later that day seeing her chewing on it in the above mentioned fashion, did I realize what was going on.

I have to say, this makes me very happy. I'm long over the days of peeling her fruit being exciting because she could finally eat solids. After almost a year of peeling, dicing and not being able to give her things like pepper strips or carrot sticks becuase they are too hard to gum, I'm over it. Really, really, over it. Today I'm doing a happy dance as we are one step closer to molars, hurray!

Monday, January 22, 2007

The First Video!

I finally got my act together and set up a YouTube account. I've only been talking/thinking about this for months now. Yeah, some early adopter I am.

Natalie has been talking nonstop lately, in full sentences and many words, her favs right now:

"come" - meaning follow me into the next room
"where is it" and "there it is!"
"no willy" - to get the dog to stop licking her toes. But apparently Willy does not speak Natalie.
and the cutest is we are teaching her to say "I love you". I'll have to get that on video, it's just too adorable!

Anyway, enjoy the first video. It's Natalie with her granddad and Willy Woo, just babbling. It's about a month old, so you won't get the above phrases. But it's still cute. Let me know what you think!